Chapter 5: The Casino

After about an hour of packing different stuffs _ some of which she does not really need, she handed over her credit card to the saleswoman who has finished arranging everything inside different sizes of shopping bags.

“We have been ordered not to debit from your card Ma’am” the lady spoke in a polite manner, her eyes fixed on the computer screen without raising her hand to collect the card.

Anna scrunched up her face in a little bit of an emotion like a confusion merged with annoyance “So what is that supposed to mean?” She questioned in a rude manner, trying to understand ‘the f**k the woman was tryna say’.

“The CEO’s younger brother gave special orders just for you. It means everything you picked here is free”

“What CEO? I think you are talking to the wrong person”

“No Ma’am. Sir Jalan Marco singled you out by himself”

“Sir Jalan Marco?” Anna suddenly remembered where she saw the name “You mean the mute guy?” Her whole expression shifted into a soft looking shock.

“You wouldn't want anyone else to hear you speak ill about a Giovanni” The lady stifled a gulp as she whispered, “This forty-five floored sky scraper is a property of the Giovannis’. Kindly watch your tongue Ma’am” Her eyes briefly glanced from left to right as though someone might be watching.

Anna felt a surge of emotion arousing inside her. Could she be regretting how she treated the mute guy? Well… No. Well… Maybe yes or whatever. “Pack up and lets go Lily”

Its not like it was her first time accepting free stuffs from guys. Nothing special about it. But then… a corner of her heart sincerely regretted what she had done to him. It was both a wrong and a rude attitude but she knew she cannot even change that mean part of herself.

Right after they had exited the building, Eric came running to help Lilian with the shopping bags. The three headed for the Limo, while Anna’s eyes glued itself on the man entering into the same Lamborghini Veneno which she had fancied earlier. She now knows who the rider was _ turned out to be the mute guy who she had trashed in the elevator. The mute guy whose family was said to own the skyscraper. The mute guy who was making her feel bad about her nasty attitude.

   She turned her face away and continued cat-walking, though secretly stealing glances at the car wheels skilfully rolling in reverse and screaming of its owner’s wealth. The Lamborghini drove away even before she could hop into her own Limo to show off her own riches.

***Time Skipped***

The next stop was a Casino resort where Anna had planned to meet with Roman Walter for a “lets call it off” drink. He had begged to have that one last moment with her and promised to not seek her out again.

“Wait for me here” Anna said to Lilian, while Eric strolled to the other side and opened the Limo door. She mounted her heels to the ground before her figure followed by. The mini dress she wore still looked gorgeous even after the exhausting long drive of nearly half an hour.

When she catwalk through the entrance, the resort welcomed her with a soft cooling music slowly fading into the background and merging into the sounds of the whirring cards. As she went deeper, her eyes captured the slot machines releasing rays of colorful lights which added to the beauty of the already perfectly decorated interior.

From all side of the Casino resort, she could see CCTV cameras neatly installed along with men in black suits strategically stationed to monitor the whole arena. As usual, men gave her the stares while women gave her the glares though what matters to her right now was to identify where Roman had made a reservation.

All of a sudden, her sight fell on a drunk Asian dude putting down a bundle of dollar on the poker table. He looked at her as though his vision were hazy due to over consumption of alcoholic beverage.

She recognized him. How can she forget that stupid face?

“Hey. Sino. Get your ass up” a daring voice forced her skin to tingle. And when she looked at the man behind Sino, her eyes captured an Alpha male with a prideful and arrogant aura rallying over his head. He had brown skin, a super dark tinted hair cut in a low fade, with one piece of small earring attached to his left ear.

Sino slothfully got up, trying to maintain his balance. His body felt so heavy that he could hardly pick himself up, but he thought he has seen the ghost of that runway model from college. Or was she not a ghost? The other gamblers seemed to be wishing in their minds for the drunk guy to forget his dollars on the poker table and Sino granted their wish and left his dollars, lethargically following the Alpha male to a straight mahogany table ahead where another blonde dude was sitting down in beach shorts.

Everyone else at least wore normal clothes but why is that odd guy wearing beach shorts? Anna wondered before she quickly turned her face to another figure who had appeared out of nowhere and tapped her on the shoulder.

Wait… What?

“Mr Jalan Marco?” She exclaimed with a great deal of surprise in her tone. How on earth is she meeting with familiar faces in the same Casino? If she clearly remember, there was no any fancy looking Lamborghini Veneno parked outside the resort, or maybe did she not scanned the environment well?

Jalan smiled and put forward something like a white envelop in between his fingers which Anna quickly collected without showing the slightest hesitation. But before she could open it, the mute guy had strode his legs straight to the mahogany table where Sino, the Alpha male and the blonde dude were all sitting and chilling out. Sino was the only one who seemed to be looking at her direction in his drunk to oblivion state of mind.

“Anna?” She heard Roman’s voice close to her ears and she snapped her attention to him.

“Oh hi”

“You seem to be lost in staring at that junkie and his group. You know them huh?” He inquired, pulling her hand into his warm palms.

“Urrrr. No. I don’t”

“What’s that in your hand then?”

“Nothing” She slid the half way opened envelope into her glittering purse like handbag “I mean… nothing for you to be concerned about”

“Very well then. Come through this space” He said as he guided her towards the set of table where he had made his special reservations. The young guy seemed smart and cool in his blue suit with no obvious sign of arrogance but rather a little bit of the possessive and jealous type of guy who cannot hide much of his curiosity to himself.

   He pulled the chair apart and waited for her to sit comfortably before he made way for himself and sat on the opposite chair_ where he would have the chance to see the whole of her pretty face.

   “You look tired sweetheart” Said the drama Queen.

“What did you expect of a hustling businessman?”

   “Ummm… Yeah. A boring life”

“So you think of me. But I can prove you wrong. Will you drink with me?”

“No. I only came here to watch you getting yourself drunk and calling me a nasty bitch. Just like the last time”

“You… you know you’re heartless don’t you?”

“Or rather picky in my taste”

He heaved a sigh “Now that I made up my mind to forget you and move on, I can’t be a friend” His gaze lingered on the champagne bottle which still has its cap intact. He wants to hold his last drop of self esteem, but who is he kidding? His mind does not fucking agree with the idea of forgetting her and moving on. He doubts if he even have any pride or self esteem.

   Surprisingly to Anna, she felt like she was going to miss her Roman. Can he really stop obsessing over her and making her feel wanted? Well… its up to him to decide. But either ways, she will surely find another guy who will pick up on the loose threads to make her feel wanted. By the way, she wondered if Mr Jalan Marco and her drug lord course mate were friends? Do they frequently hang out in the Casino? Perhaps that could be the reason why Roman spoke like he knew the group?

Well. Whatever. “Pop the champagne” She said to Roman.